NEWARK, Del. - The threat of a swine flu outbreak at the University of Delaware has forced the cancellation of the Delaware baseball team’s three-game series at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the softball team’s three-game series at Hofstra this weekend.

A member of the Blue Hen baseball team was one of the initial four cases of suspected swine flu diagnosed on campus Tuesday. Six more UD students ill with flu-like symptoms and treated at UD Student Health Services on Wednesday have been given a probable diagnosis of swine flu. None of the other six are UD student-athletes.

The baseball team was scheduled to bus to North Carolina on Thursday to begin a pivotal three-game series with Colonial Athletic Association foe UNC Wilmington beginning with a single game Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. The series was scheduled to continue with single games Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The three games will not be rescheduled. Delaware (23-15, 8-7 CAA) and UNC Wilmington (24-17, 8-7) are currently tied for fourth place in the league standings.

The Blue Hen softball team (21-18, 7-9) was scheduled to travel to league-leading Hofstra (27-16, 14-3 CAA) in Hempstead, N.Y. Thursday to take on the Pride in a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 12 noon.

Since those contests were the final regular season game for Delaware this spring, the Blue Hens’ season has ended. In order to advance to the four-team CAA Tournament next week, Delaware would have had to sweep all three games from Hofstra in combination with James Madison losing all three games to last-place George Mason and UNC Wilmington losing two or more games to Georgia State.

The status of all other UD athletics events are being considered on a case-by-case basis and will be continually monitored. The Delaware Open Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Meet scheduled for this Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Delaware Mini-Stadium and the women’s rowing participation at the ECAC Metro Championships Saturday in Camden, N.J. are still scheduled to take place.

In addition, the University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team is currently in Williamsburg, Va. and will take on Old Dominion in the CAA semifinals tonight at 7:30 p.m. at William & Mary. Should Delaware win that game, the Blue Hens would advance to the CAA title game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

NOTE: Please contact University of Delaware Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information Director Scott Selheimer for further questions at 302-831-8007, 302-562-5129 or at selheime@udel.edu.